The Softer Side Of Rock

First thing's first, a great big Happy Birthday to this lady:

My fellow rock chick and fave sister-in-law is celebrating her **cough**th birthday today...Happy Birthday L'il Sis!

So, what to buy her...hmmm....

Brainwave! Last year, my fave present was this from the fabulous Marie. So I gets to thinking: as obssessed as I was with the curly haired top hated one, my SIL had a bit of a thing for the rather temperamental lead singer. Ta-da! So, off to the sewing box and after a few hours of chuckling to myself, I came up with this:


It's Axl!! Complete with tattoos (one of which is his long-time love, my SIL!):

I was so sad to send him, but there was just time for a quick band photo before he was parcelled up:

Eeeh, I do amuse myself sometimes!

Finally...An Equation With an Answer I Like!

Like I've not told anyone yet but... I've got a job! Very strange how it came about, here's the story:

I had actually given up looking for anything temporary for next year, I'd also decided to go for a secondary school teacher training course as the competition for primary places is ridiculous. I was going to get my application done on Sunday night and was just about to text the teacher I currently work with, Anouska, to ask if she'd mind writing me a reference when... my phone beeps...it's Anouska! Doo doo doo doo!

She says she's sending me a copy of the reference she's just written for my interview tomorrow. I text back 'er, what interview?'. So she rings and she's had a letter asking for a reference for a job interview I have on Monday, first I knew! So, Monday morning comes and I ring the contact at the school early at 7.50 to say I haven't recieved the letter but I am available, could she just tell me what time my interview is...

8.20!

Aaaarrrggghhhhh!!

Do you know what my bloggy pals? I made it! With 2 minutes to spare (but rather dishevelled hair!)!

Anyway, it was a full morning sat with 9 other applicants in the staff room while we got called in one-by-one to first of all teach for 20 minutes, then an interview. When I got into the interview they informed me I wasn't being interviewed for a teaching assistant post but for a Maths Mentor that also has to teach! Er, but my degree's in English and graphic Design. Well, can you add up? Well, I got a B at GCSE in Maths.

Anyway, I only get a phonecall at 2.55 to say I got it! Could have knocked me down with a feather! So, as of September I'll be partly responsible for 1060 teenagers' Maths skills, god help them!

Fun In The Sun!

A few randoms that don't fit into any other posts, just show what a great time was had by all!

The wonderfully quaint Mary's Outhouse:

Where they did the best ribs in the world:
The great jelly fish rescue:

Feeding the fish:

Xander and his new best friend, the pool:

Mother-of-the-bride and Bessie man having an afternoon cocktail-fuelled game of black jack:

The 3 kids playing in the pool:

Xander and the hotel's tortoises (" Hiya Mummy Toytus, Hiya Baby Toytus!"):

Mid afternoon pool activities with our American friends:

The hobby-cat'ers, Rob and Piaras:

And Finally...The Wedding Photos!

After days of promising, here's a few of the best of the wedding pics:

And The Bride Wore...

... a lot of novelty items!

OK, not for the actual wedding (pics will be up this weekend, promise!) but it would seem between us we had bought half of eBay's fancy dress items! First of all there were the array of pirate outfits on the first night. Then, the morning after the wedding, Gemma graced us poolside with this get-up: My sister's a Mrs, sniff!

We then had a night with official Tate Match tshirts. Everyone had the same but G&D got special ones:

And the final night was Hawaii night, complete with Hawaiian shirts and garlands:

and special all singing-all dancing flashing ones for the bride and groom:

Emily took her hula outfit:

And Xander his special mini Hawaiian shirt:

Roger borrowed Ellie's grass skirt but I'm not convinced he got the hang of it:

Between all that and wedding outfits, I'm surprised there was any room in the cases left for actual real clothes!

The Most Picturesque Hairdressers In The World?

Now, I love going to my hairdressers. I've known her for years and we always have a good chat, plus I get to drink coffee and read magazines which is a luxury these days. However, all I get to stare at is my ugly mug in the mirror!

On holiday, we let Emily have her hair braided (and it served a practical function keeping it out of her face!). It took an hour as her hair's so long but look at the hairdressers my daughter got to sit in!

Now that's a much better view than my unmade up face I can tell you!

Em looked cool afterwards:

So much so that Ellie and the girls' new friend Bliss had their's done too:

As the braider had so much custom from us, she insisted on doing Xander a free braid!

What a cool little rasta dude!

My Fave Holiday Pic

Well, apart from the wedding pics that is (which will be on here soon, I promise!).

This pic was taken on our second night in Antigua and I love it! The kids went to play on the beach (which the bar overlooked) and they just seemed so happy to be there!

A few other faves of the kids. This one was taken on our Hawaiian themed night and has the kids with the other bridesmaid Ellie:


Me and Em enjoying a pre-dinner cocktail (OK, hers was fruit punch, but she liked to pretend! Mine was NOT fruit punch!):

Xander loved the pool, especially when we found this inflatable taxi for him to play in:

And finally, on the way home, Xander's rather unconventional way of sleeping on a plane!

Right, I suppose I should actually come back down to earth now and do some work. Boo! Or I could just go and book another holiday...hmmmm....